Man accused of exposing himself to 8-year-old at popular Deerfield Township gym

Man accused of exposing himself to 8-year-old at popular Deerfield Township gym

Authorities cited Maximillon Stafford, 30, for indecent exposure

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 4:50 PM EDT Apr 25, 2018

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT FACING CHARGES,AND THE GIRL’S FAMILY IS SPEAKING OUT. >> MY DAUGHTER NOTICED AN ADULT WHITE MALE THAT WAS LOOKING AT HE SHADOWING HER. FOLLOWING HER. SHE SAID IF HE SHE WENT UNDER WATER, HE WENT UNDER WATER. ALEXIS: THIS MOTHER, WHO WE ARE NOT IDENTIFYING, SAYS AFTER HER DAUGHTER’S SWIM PRACTICE, THE GIRL WENT INTO THE FAMILY CHANGING AREA THAT’S A CO-ED LOCKER ROOM WITH PRIVATE AREAS FOR FAMILIES TO SHOWER AND CHANGE. >> HE LURED HER IN THERE. HE SAID I AM FINISHED WITH THIS CHANGING ROOM IF YOU WANT IT. SHE PICKS UP HER BAG, WALKS IN, FOLLOWS BEHIND HER, STEPS INSIDE, DROPS HIS TOWEL, A EXPOSES HIS GENETALIA TO HER. SHE JUST FROZE FOR A SECOND. THEN SHE SAID HE WAS GESTURING TO HER, THAT SHE COULD TAKE HER CLOTHES OFF TOO. ALEXIS: THE MOTHER SAYS THE DOOR WASN’T CLOSED SO THE LITTLE GIRL WAS ABLE TO RUN AND TELL HER MOTHER. HER MOTHER WENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER. >> SHE WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION. I SAID ARE YOU CALLING THE POLICE? SHE SAID I AM NOT CALLING THE POLICE, YOU CAN CALL THE POLICE. I SAID THIS IS YOUR FACILITY, WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO CALL? SHE SAID IT HAPPENED TO YOUR DAUGHTER. ALEXIS: ONCE POLICE ARRIVED, THE 8-YEAR-OLD IDENTIFIED 30-YEAR-OLD MAXIMILLAN STAFFORD, HE’S NOW CHARGED WITH PUBLIC INDECENCY. THE GIRL’S PARENTS SAY THEIR FOCUS IS ON HELPING THEIR DAUGHTER. >> THE TRAUMA FROM IT, HONESTLY, NO. I THINK EVEN THAT NIGHT, TO GO BACK TO THE CHANGING AREA SHE COULDN’T DO IT. I JUST DON’T SEE HOW WE COULD GO BACK AS A FAMILY. ALEXIS: STAFFORD IS DUE IN COURT THURSDAY. SHEREE: LIFETIME FITNESS SENT US A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM ITS CORPORATE OFFICE, A VICE PRESIDENT TELLING US AS A PARENT MYSELF, THIS INCIDENT WOULD BE UNSETTLING TO SAY THE LEAST. TO BE SURE, HAD THE PARENT NOT MADE THE INITIAL CONTACT TO THE AUTHORITIES, OUR STAFF WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE DONE SO IN SHORT ORDER PER OUR ESTABLISHED PROTOC

Advertisement

Man accused of exposing himself to 8-year-old at popular Deerfield Township gym

A Loveland man is facing charges for indecent exposure at a popular fitness club in Deerfield Township.An 8-year-old child claims a man exposed himself and attempted to get her to do the same.Authorities responded to Life Time Fitness Center in Deerfield Township Thursday after the girl accused the man of following her and exposing himself.Authorities cited Maximillon Stafford, 30, for indecent exposure.The girl's mother said the family just joined the gym last month for the family programs, especially the swimming program."My daughter noticed an adult white male that was looking at her. He kept looking at her -- shadowing her, following her. She said if she went underwater, he went underwater," the girl's mother said. "She would notice him switching back and forth. She even asked the coach, 'What is he doing?' and the coach just dismissed it."After practice, her daughter went into the family changing area, a co-ed locker room with private areas for families to shower and change.The girl said she saw the man inside and left to get a staff member."She comes in. She hands changing bag. She tells her, 'Hey, I will be right back. I am going to clock out, I will be right back,'" the girl's mother said. "He lured her in there. He said 'Hey, I am finished with this changing room if you want it.' She picks up her bag, walks in. He follows behind her, steps inside, drops his towel and exposes his genitalia to her. She just froze for a second. Then she said he was gesturing to her -- that she could take her clothes off too."The door wasn't closed, so the little girl was able to run and tell her mother. Her mother went to tell the general manager."She wouldn't give me any information. I said, 'Well are you calling the police?' She said, 'I am not calling the police. You can call the police.' I said, 'This is your facility. Why wouldn't you want to call.' She said, 'It happened to your daughter,'" the girl's mother said.Once police arrived, the 8-year-old claimed Stafford was the man in the changing room.Her parents said they want to see more serious charges as well as better policies implemented at the gym."To find out that this is just a misdemeanor charge for this person who has altered not just one person's life, but a whole families life forever," the girl's mother said. "One thing that we would like to see from Life Time is that they put a policy in place for taking care of children who have been left in their care. They definitely need a policy and they don't have one."Meanwhile, their focus is on their daughter.WLWT reached out to Life Time Fitness. They sent the following statement:" In our review of the matter, staff characterized the exchange with the parent as very collaborative, not dismissive or contentious.""As a company committed to delivering safe, respectful, family oriented environments, we take this reported incident very seriously. Upon being alerted to the matter, our team engaged immediately to identify whether the alleged individual in this matter remained in the club as well as gather details to assist the local authorities in their investigation. We can confirm that the individual involved no longer is a member and, as always, we remain diligent in our efforts to provide our members with a safe and secure environment."Stafford is due in court Thursday.

DEERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio —

A Loveland man is facing charges for indecent exposure at a popular fitness club in Deerfield Township.

An 8-year-old child claims a man exposed himself and attempted to get her to do the same.

Advertisement

Authorities responded to Life Time Fitness Center in Deerfield Township Thursday after the girl accused the man of following her and exposing himself.

Authorities cited Maximillon Stafford, 30, for indecent exposure.

The girl's mother said the family just joined the gym last month for the family programs, especially the swimming program.

"My daughter noticed an adult white male that was looking at her. He kept looking at her -- shadowing her, following her. She said if she went underwater, he went underwater," the girl's mother said. "She would notice him switching back and forth. She even asked the coach, 'What is he doing?' and the coach just dismissed it."

After practice, her daughter went into the family changing area, a co-ed locker room with private areas for families to shower and change.

The girl said she saw the man inside and left to get a staff member.

"She [a staff member] comes in. She hands [my daughter] changing bag. She tells her, 'Hey, I will be right back. I am going to clock out, I will be right back,'" the girl's mother said. "He lured her in there. He said 'Hey, I am finished with this changing room if you want it.' She picks up her bag, walks in. He follows behind her, steps inside, drops his towel and exposes his genitalia to her. She just froze for a second. Then she said he was gesturing to her -- that she could take her clothes off too."

The door wasn't closed, so the little girl was able to run and tell her mother. Her mother went to tell the general manager.

"She [the general manager] wouldn't give me any information. I said, 'Well are you calling the police?' She said, 'I am not calling the police. You can call the police.' I said, 'This is your facility. Why wouldn't you want to call.' She said, 'It happened to your daughter,'" the girl's mother said.

Once police arrived, the 8-year-old claimed Stafford was the man in the changing room.

Her parents said they want to see more serious charges as well as better policies implemented at the gym.

"To find out that this is just a misdemeanor charge for this person who has altered not just one person's life, but a whole families life forever," the girl's mother said. "One thing that we would like to see from Life Time is that they put a policy in place for taking care of children who have been left in their care. They definitely need a policy and they don't have one."

Meanwhile, their focus is on their daughter.

WLWT reached out to Life Time Fitness. They sent the following statement:

" In our review of the matter, staff characterized the exchange with the parent as very collaborative, not dismissive or contentious."

"As a company committed to delivering safe, respectful, family oriented environments, we take this reported incident very seriously. Upon being alerted to the matter, our team engaged immediately to identify whether the alleged individual in this matter remained in the club as well as gather details to assist the local authorities in their investigation. We can confirm that the individual involved no longer is a member and, as always, we remain diligent in our efforts to provide our members with a safe and secure environment."